egame+proposal

Leo Hsu (leoliyenhsu@gmail.com) Rob Reyes (robroyale69@gmail.com) Matt Villaescusa(matt.villaescusa@gmail.com) || Put a graphic here ||
 * || =Wii Fit: Build a Better Athlete=

Overview
Saturday is game day..... You are the overweight, out of shape, unskilled gorilla that is faced with the challenge of competing against a team of highly skilled lacrosse players. During the game, your coach is yelling at you and your teammates are frustrated with your play. You realize that being overweight and out of shape is having a negative impact on your lacrosse career. What can you do to get better? Start by improving your fitness level while participating in a variety of common fitness activities. As your fitness level improves (agility, endurance, strength, body composition), the character you create in Build a Better Athlete will begin to reflect this change. What about your skill level? You need practice, right? You can improve your character's performance by practicing skill related drills (passing, shooting on goal, defense). These newly acquired skills will improve your character's ability to perform in a game situation. The more you practice, the better your character becomes.

Participants of Build a Better Athlete are faced with the challenge of improving their personal fitness while a character they create compete in a variety of popular team sports (baseball, lacrosse, and volleyball). To start the game, players will choose a character to represent themselves as they compete in the many challenges of Build a Better Athlete. As the game progresses, players can improve character performance by increasing fitness and skill levels. Not only does the gamer control character performance, but they can also earn points throughout the game (fitness, skill, and status points). For example, when a gamer earns status points, they may be used to customize their character by purchasing sports equipment, clothing, cars, houses, and more.

Instructional Objective
The primary objective for Build a Better Athlete is quite simple..... Improve personal fitness.
 * Assess personal fitness level.
 * Describe the five parts of fitness.
 * Develop personal fitness goals.
 * Create a personal fitness plan.
 * Identify and perform physical activities that improve the five parts of fitness.

Learners
//Build a Better Athlete// is designed for anyone interested in improving their personal fitness level while actively participating in familiar sports games. Like many successful video games, we hope that this game will be appealing to a wide range of age groups (ages 10 and above). This game is geared towards both male and female upper level elementary students (fourth grade and above) to adults of all ages. Since there are many aspects of fitness training involved, prior experience in various team sports is not a necessity. Although, players with prior experience in team sports will most likely have a shorter learning curve. There are several "pop up" tutorials throughout the game to help players understand how to perform fitness exercises and sports skills, understand offensive and defensive strategies and concepts in the various sports, and proper nutrition to improve fitness levels and sports performance. //Build a Better Athlete// is a game where players are playing a "virtual season" while learning the attributes it takes to become a champion.

Context of Use
This game, Wii Fit: //Build a Better Athlete// would be more appropriate for home use than at a school. It is intended to be played multiple times by creating a journey for a young athlete that takes them from training camp to the championship game. The game can be played individually, versus single or multiple opponents in person, or with other Wii players online 'Live' via the internet. Due to financial constraints of buying multiple game systems and televisions, limited indoor facility use and size, it is unlikely that the game could be played in a school setting. Prior to the game, all players start as an unfit/out of shape, unskilled athlete. In order to change their appearance and athletic ability, players need to perform fitness exercises and meet a specific goal. If a player does not meet a goal, they can perform the fitness exercise until they meet the goal. The length of the game will vary based upon the commitment of the player. Build a Better Athlete will be developed using the Wii gaming system.

Scope
//Build a better athlete// is a progression (advancement) type game. The game may be played multiple times so that the gamer can see their personal Avatar mature from a beginning level athlete, to an athlete that has ultimately been built to an athlete of professional or Olympic caliber. The time it takes a gamer to build their athlete to the ultimate professional will vary and depend on the amount of time that the gamer is willing to spend working out to improve their athlete.

Rooms (screens): There will be 7 (five) main screens with additional rooms branching off of those rooms. Branches: Branches: Branches: Skill Practice includes - throwing, catching, hitting, pitching, shooting...etc. Skill Practice includes - platform passing (bump pass), hitting (spiking), jumping, serving, footwork, blocking...etc. Branches:
 * Create a player room: Improvement of physical attributes
 * 1: Facial shape, ears, eyebrows, nose, mouth (lips), facial hair
 * 2: Skin Tone
 * 3: Hair Style
 * 4: eye color
 * 5: Body Type: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph
 * Fitness club Room Screen: (Conditioning) Workout Rooms
 * 1: Free Weight Room
 * 2: Pulley Machines
 * 3: Squat Rack
 * 4: Agility Training
 * Training Camps Screen
 * 1: Outdoor Sports Training Camp - Baseball and lacrosse skill training variety
 * 2: Indoor Sports Training Camp - Volleyball, basketball
 * Shopping mall Screen
 * 1: Sporting Goods Store
 * 2: Electronics Store (ipod, itouch, ...etc.)
 * 3: Footlocker (athletic wear, shoes, ...etc.)
 * 4: Nutrition Store (Great Earth vitamins, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC...etc.)

Branches: Branches: Branches:
 * Car dealership Screen
 * 1: Used Cars: Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Honda
 * 2: Subaru, Lexus, Volkswagen, Cadillac
 * 3: Jaguar,Mercedes, Lexus, Land Rover, Hummer, BMW
 * 4: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Bentley, Lotus, Roll Royce
 * Buy a home
 * 1: Apartment or studio
 * 2: Home or Condominium
 * 3: Build your custom dream home (Mansion, Private Luxury Estate...etc.)
 * Championship Game Screen
 * 1: Youth Sports (beginner or entry level) competition
 * 2: Middle School (Intermediate) level competition
 * 3: High School (Advanced) level competition
 * 4: Professional or Olympic level competition
 * Awards Ceremony Screen (shown at the end of each championship game)
 * 1: Screen stating your overall performance statistics.
 * 2: "Congratulation, you've succeeded to the next level" screen. Advancement granted. Trophy Awarded.
 * 3: "Level advancement denied. You need more practice and training" screen.

**Object of the Game**

The game goal is for gamers to earn a variety of points, improve their character's overall fitness and skill level. Fun distractions in the game will be to earn 'Status points'. Status points will enable your character to shop at the mall, visit the car dealership, buy your dream home. Points earned will be either fitness points, skill points, or status points. Gamers will start off playing in beginner youth leagues. As the gamers accomplish or complete a variety of skill practice and to improve character performance to advance from one athletic level to the next. Example progression: Middle school, High school JV/Varsity, College level, and ultimately Professional or Olympic level Athletic competition. At the end of each level and before progressing to the next level, there will be a championship game. Being able to advance to the next level will be dependent on the gamer's proficiency and performance in the championship game.

Earning points

Status Points: Purchases may be made at the shopping mall for a 'Shopping Spree' or a trip to the car dealership for a cool new Ferrari, Hummer, Porsche, Corvette...etc. The status points may also be used to shop at the mall buy material items like an ipod, ipod touch, latest athletic shoe, coolest hat, hottest warm-up suit...etc.

Skill Points: Gamers will earn skill points while playing a variety of different skill games related to throwing, kicking, catching, shooting, running...etc.

Fitness Points: Gamers will earn fitness points through repetition of skill practice in the outdoor and indoor practice and spending time in

Training camp: Begin to build a foundation of athletic and fitness based skills. Gamer performance in these basic fitness and skill challenges will influence the progress and development of your Avatar character. Your character will resemble an appropriate avatar picture depicting that players present skill and athletic ability level. The goal is for the gamer to complete a variety of mini games and physical challenges. Within each of those games the gamer will be able to earn fitness points, skill points, and status points.

Examples:

Fitness points: In the fitness club portion of the game, the gamer will earn points for increasing their bench press performance.

Skill Points: In a mini-camp game, the gamer will earn points by shooting a particular number of lacrosse balls at a target with 90% accuracy.

Status points: Scores a perfect in any mini-camp skill game, fitness performance, or outstanding displays of skill during a championship game at the end of each level.

Each time the gamer plays, they accumulate points to help build the strength of their athlete. As the gamers complete each level they will acquire points (each level has different point values based on the importance and difficulty of the next level that they wish to advance to). When a gamer's attains a particular status point level, they will be given the opportunity to apply their points to challenge the next stage and/or be promoted to the next competition level. Example progression: Middle school, High school JV/Varsity, College level and ultimately Professional or Olympic level athletic competition.

Competing Products
What's out there that covers the same content as this game? How is your game similar to others? How is it different and better? (You can check [|Downloads.com] for shareware and freeware competitors, the [|Games Domain] search engine for commercial products, and the [|Educational Resources catalog] for school-oriented titles

Big League Sports (Nintendo Wii) This game has some similarities to Build a Better Athlete. This edition of Big League Sports offers players a choice of Summer related sports (beach volleyball, tennis, baseball, football, soccer and golf). In this game, players control character performance by participating in events like home run derby or target golf.

My Fitness Coach (Nintendo Wii) In this game, a personal trainer guides participants through personalized work outs. Interesting features include fitness goals, work out calendar, and step by step tutorials that demonstrate a variety of fitness activities. Players can choose the environment and music of each exercise session.

EA Sports Active (Nintendo Wii) This is one of the many fitness themed games for the Wii system. This game features a 30 day challenge that changes as you progress each day, and track calories, intensity and progress throughout your journey. Follow the guidance, motivation and training support offered by a virtual personal trainer.

[|HOPSports Training Systems] The HOPSports Training System delivers 21st century physical education to millions of kids with its unique multi-media, technology driven, standards-compliant physical education system that merges media with technology! HOPSports leadership has over twenty years experience in training elementary, middle and high school students, professional athletes, Olympians, and Hollywood celebrities with its cutting-edge training concepts.

Design Details
This is the heart of the document. It will serve as a blueprint for those who actually develop the game. The more specific you can be here, the less backtracking and expensive confusion there will be later. //Universal Elements// Describe and provide illustrations of the overall look and feel of the game. What style of graphics and sounds will be used? Cartoonish? Photorealistic? Wacky? Business-like? Colorful? Muted? //Specific Elements// The specifics from this point on will vary depending on the format of game that you're using. For adventure games, provide:
 * an overall map of the simulated world, showing its boundaries and major features
 * a description of the role the learner is playing while moving through the world
 * a description of the overall game goal the learner is trying to achieve
 * a flowchart showing all possible rooms and allowable moves
 * a decription of the obstacles that will challenge the learner
 * a list of all prizes or artifacts and their locations
 * profiles of all non-player characters
 * a description of the scoring system, if any
 * a sequence of sample screens showing how one moves and acts on the game

(Rob's ideas) Status points Status points demand will be higher in order for the gamer to advance their personal avatar to the level in succession. The game will end with a huge congratulatory finale, with the athlete standing on the podium earning either a first, second, or third place trophy. As soon as the gamer wins the ultimate challenge at the end of each competitive level.

For branching stories, provide: For quiz games, provide: For arcade games, provide: For simulations, provide: //Technical Elements// Describe the:
 * a flowchart of all major branches in the game
 * a description of the events within each of the major branches including the entry decision that starts the branch
 * sample screens showing a sequence of the story
 * a character dictionary describing the appearance, background, motivation, and other characteristics of everyone who appears in the story
 * a description of the categorization scheme used for questions
 * sample questions within each category showing questions at each level of difficulty
 * sample screens showing the sequence of question asking, learner input, and feedback
 * sample screens showing introductory material, high score pages, etc.
 * a description of the scoring system to be used
 * a description of the categorization scheme used for sprites moving on the screen
 * sample images within each category showing sprites at each level of difficulty
 * sample screens showing the sequence of animation, learner input, and consequences
 * sample screens showing introductory material, high score pages, etc.
 * a description of all user-manipulable variables in the game
 * a description of all output variables displayed
 * a description of the initial or default state of all variables
 * sample screens showing a sequence of situation, learner input, and result
 * sample screens showing introductory material, high score pages, etc.
 * a description of the mathematical and logical relationships that link the input variables and output variables (i.e., the underlying model of the simulation).
 * specific software needed to author the game
 * platform(s) the game would be developed for
 * file formats of graphics and sounds
 * method to accommodate multiple platforms (if that's being done)
 * data structures for any files used to save the game state

**(Rob) //Does this fit here?//

Physical Attributes**: Strength, Agility, & Endurance
 * Skill Ability**: Running, Throwing, Catching, Dodging, Striking...etc., practice field, working out at the exercise gym
 * Material Status**: Players can purchase different sporting good store, equipmentclothing, cars and more.

Motivational Issues
Describe how the game engages the learner. How does it make use of curiosity, challenge, control, fantasy, competition, cooperation, etc.? (No one game will do all of these things, so focus on the particular strengths of this particular game.) Make specific reference to the theoretical readings associated with this course.

(Rob) A motivational (fun) piece for this game may be that the gamer is given the opportunity to earn status points. Gamers like to given the ability to earn or buy 'stuff' to upgrade characteristics of your avatar character. The stuff gamers like can be purchased with their status points as personal rewards.

Design Process
Describe the process you went through in putting the game together. What were your first thoughts? How did you enhance your ideas? What ideas did you consider and reject (and why?). How did you gather background information? What did you do to see if there are similar games out there? What did you do to get feedback on the idea? How did you flesh out the game to the point of having a playable prototype? How did you gather feedback from that? What lessons did you learn from this that you'll carry to your next game design project?